“Kami, [ang] pinag-uusapan namin saan kayo dadalhin,” Roxas added, touting how he plans to continue the “Daang Matuwid” program of President Benigno Aquino III, his fellow Liberal Party member.

Duterte had claimed that Roxas had a nervous breakdown as Interior Secretary during Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013. The worst storm ever to make landfall, Yolanda hit the country on November 8, 2013, affecting over 1.4 million families and killing around 6,300 people.

“Mar Roxas got the scare of his life during Yolanda,” Duterte said. “I was there on Day Two. Si Mar nagka-breakdown.”

“I was there. I was talking to him. Nag-mo-monologue siya,” he said. “He was not acting like a person who was in charge of a disaster (relief operation), giving commands or critical orders.”

Roxas’ allies also belied Duterte’s claim. Daang Matuwid coalition spokesperson and Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez said that Roxas’ actions during Yolanda were well-documented and were “far more believable” than Duterte’s statements.

Roxas and Duterte have been in a heated exchange of words since late last year after they both announced their intentions to run for president. The war of words even escalated into “sampalan threats” where they both threatened to slap each other. (MNS)